The Nervous Cells

The nervous cells of the cortex are the most delicate of all the cells of the human body.

It is at the moment of tiredness of the cortical nervous cells that the process of inhibition begins to act. This process does not allow new stimuli to pass to the tired areas of the brain. To provide the smooth work of the brain the nervous cells must be well supplied with oxygen and feeding substances. And for this purpose any human being must have regular complete rest, i.e. sleep.

When the process of inhibition extends over a great number of cells, spreads widely over the cortex and even over the subcortical areas of the brain one falls asleep.

When one sleeps the vital activity of the nervous system is restored. So sleep is of a great protective significance to the human being.

The man sleeps about one third of his life. Numerous investigations and experiments have shown that sleep is more necessary for the human being than food. One can live longer without food than without sleep.

During a sound quiet sleep the whole activity of the human organism changes, the body metabolism decreases, the respiratory and pulse rates become slower, the body temperature drops. Though the stimuli continue to come into the brain, the inhibited cortical cells do not react to them.

 

Exercise 4. Answer the questions:

1. What kind of cells are the cells of the human brain?

2. When does the process of inhibition begin to act?

3. Are new stimuli allowed to pass to the brain during the process of inhibition?

4. What must be done to provide the smooth work of the brain?

5. What must any human being have for the proper work of the brain?

6. When does one fall asleep?

7. Why is sleep so important?

8. What have numerous investigations and experiments shown?

9. What happens with the human organism during sleep?

 

Exercise 5. Find English equivalents in the text:

нервові клітини, для цієї мети, кора головного мозку, стомлення, процес уповільнення, нові стимули, забезпечувати відповідну роботу головного мозку, насичувати киснем та поживними речовинами, постійний абсолютний спокій, поширюватися на кору головного мозку, засинати, відновлювати життєдіяльність нервової системи, численні дослідження та експерименти, під час глибокого сну, обмін речовин, частота дихання та пульсу.

 

Exercise 6. Translate the words in the brackets:

1. When the man feels (стомленість) he (засинає).

2. The external surface of the liver is (гладка).

3. Sleep is of a great protective (значення) to the human being.

4. Please, be (тихо), the patient has just (заснув).

5. When the doctor was examining the patient he determined that the respiratory and pulse rate were (уповільнені).